National Institute for Research & Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry
ICECHIM
1950-2020: 70 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS RESEARCH IN CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AT ICECHIM
G2: Alternative bioresources and biofuels
About us
In the last years, Alternative Bioresources and Biofuels Team’s (E2) research was focused on 2 important directions: 1. Alternative Bioresources – research activities regarding on use of microalgae for the decontamination of wastewater; the complex use of microalgae for obtaining useful compounds (lipids, antioxidants, biostimulants, phytocatalysts); sustainable biosequestration of GHG in microalgal photosynthetic systems; exploitation of natural resources to obtain food supplements. 2. Biofuels – research activities regarding on the obtaining of third-generation biofuels (aviation biofuels from algal oil) and second-generation biofuels (biodiesel); biogas obtaining; valorization of by-products from the biodiesel production; ecological solvents from animal or vegetables wastes. Interdisciplinary profile of Alternative Bioresources and Biofuels Team allows to carry out applied research in chemistry field and organic chemistry technologies (unpetrochemical products, organic intermediary, complex biomass refinery), unconventional technologies, ecological technologies and products, chemical and instrumental analysis, technological transfer, consulting, management and execution of national and international research projects.
Team
Research equipment
PHOTOBIOREACTOR SARTORIUS, TIP PBR 25S
Modular photosynthesis system -Sterilizable -Length of 6 meters – Construction transparent material (glass) – Useful volume: 3 liters – Lighting system with 18 W fluorescent lamps with control and power connection
LABORATORY AUTOCLAVE BÜCHIGLASUSTER
Laboratory autoclave interchangeable stainless steel pots and glass: Reactor vessel Type 1Bi; Reactor vessel Type 4 – Total volume stainless steel vessel within 3 L – Total volume up to 1.6 L glass vessel
LAB FERMENTER TYPE RALF, 5L
– Volume: 5 L – Material: Duran glass with double jacket for temperature control through an external water bath – Operational temperature: up to 80 °C – Operational pressure: up to max. 1.5 bar – Air inlet pressure to fermenter shoul not exceed 1.5 bar
CONTINUOUS FLOW TUBULAR REACTOR
Material of construction: stainless steel resistant to hydrogen – Maximum operating temperature: 550 °C; – Maximum operating pressure: 3000 psi (approx. 200 bar); constant pressure is maintained with a Back Pressure Regulator (BPR) downstream of the reactor; – Gas feed system: Gas Distribution Panel and an electronic Mass Flow Controller for hydrogen, up to 350 mL/min; – Liquid feed system: high pressure piston pump, from 0.01…10mL/min; – Three independent controlled heating zones, controlled by three thermo¬couples and one moveable internal thermocouple; – The reactor has upper and lower supports to hold catalyst particles in place; – Downstream of the reactor are located a cooling condenser and a gas/liquid separator; – Heaters, mass flow
SUPERCRITICAL FLUID EXTRACTION SYSTEM, MODEL SFT-150SFE/SFR
Supercritical processing system provided with: vessel extraction / reaction at high pressure fluid pump, valve and controller to restrict the temperature, pressure and temperature programming dish, alarm systems, manually operated valves
LIOPHYLISATION EQUIPMENT
Freeze for solid or liquid with capacity of the condenser of up to 4 kg / 24 h – Condenser temperature to – 600C – Control unit with LCD display and keypad interface operating sensitive – Vacuum pump absorption capacity of 2 m3 h minim and final pressure up to 5 x 10-3
PHOTOBIOREACTOR (PHYTA PLATFORM FROM CULTURING SOLUTIONS, USA)
Tubular sterilizable modular, formed interconnected horizontal tube, made of transparent material (glass or polymeric material); -50 mm max diameter tubes – Tubular system useful volume: 40 liters min – max 60 liters – tank supply / recycling / collection of stainless steel or polymeric material, with volume up to 50 liters; – Control Panel ; – Fluorescent lighting system with white light, with min 30 W / lamp and photosynthetic active radiation of 500-400 μE / m2s
International projects
National projects
Energetic efficiency biogas plants improvement by integrated system: biogas-microalgae-biofuels in frame of biorefinery concept (AlgalBiogasConceptEnergy)
Development and demonstration of innovative technologies to optimize the biogas plants by integrating the open ponds for microalgae cultivation using the digestate resulted from anaerobic digestion as a culture medium
Value added products from microalgae biomass applying biorefinery concepts
By adopting the concept “zero waste, the project aims to convert the exhausted biomass from active principles into biocarbons with adsorbent properties, which will be tested for the retention of inorganic compounds
Complete Recovery of Fish and Oilseed Wastes Extracts/Hydrolysates in Microcapsules Usable as Fertilizers or Nutraceuticals
“NutraFert” – The complete recovery of wastes of fish and oilseed as extracts and hydrolysates for microencapsulation, the final product being used as fertilizer or nutraceuticals
Results